In 1945, a six-year-old German boy looked above and saw the fighter jets of World War II, and imagined what it would be like to become a pilot and fly a plane one day.  That image stayed with him at the end of the war when Russia took possession of his homeland and his family wandered throughout Eastern Europe, before finding a way into West Germany.  His desire to fly would continue as his family made its way to the United States in 1955.  A few years later the U.S. would be involved in the Vietnam War and the young German, now a U.S. citizen and medical school graduate, joined the U.S. Air Force where his dream finally came true.  Hermann K. Orlet, M.D., the young boy with fighter jets seared in his mind, learned to fly as a reconnaissance flight surgeon.

"Two things that still excite me are flying and operating," said Dr. Orlet.  "I love to go to the operating room and I love to fly airplanes."

In 1985, after a number of years in plastic surgery in California, Dr. Orlet's military experience would bring him to Augusta, where he would join Physicians Multispecialty Group, the practice of Dr. Joseph Still, founder of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital. "From our first handshake, Joe and I liked each other right away, and that friendship continued until his death," shared Dr. Orlet.

For 28 years Dr. Orlet has been affiliated with the Burn Center and still receives gratification from the patients he treats.  "It's gratifying to take the sickest patient of any group, and help restore them to not only where they can lead a fairly normal life but to also be gainfully employed."

Two of his most notable patients have been Shirley Badke and Joe Hardy.  Both Shirley and Joe were burned over 86% of their bodies.  They both did tremendously well because of their mental toughness.  Shirley and Dr. Orlet have a bond that is closer than a typical doctor-patient relationship.  "He is family to me," explained Badke.  That relationship was why Shirley helped establish the Hermann K. Orlet Garden of Hope at the Burn Foundation.    "I knew that as long as the facility was maintained, our names would remain side by side even after we left this world.  That's how much Hermann means to me.  He saved my life."

Dr. Orlet has been a strong supporter of the Burn Foundation since its beginning.  "There is a special need that the Burn Foundation fulfills," explained Dr. Orlet.  "They help take care of families, getting them back on their feet and providing them a place to stay instead of sleeping in hospital plastic chairs, while their loved one is being treated in the Burn Center." 

Dr. Orlet and his lovely wife, Marianne, recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary.   They are the proud parents of one son and grandparents of twins.

From a child experiencing war to an admired and gifted physician who helps save lives, Dr. Orlet has lived the American Dream.  We are grateful for him, and the significant role he has played in the history of the Burn Center and Burn Foundation.